Vacation ideas

[Nick87]

Alright I need some advice. 5 and 7 year old boys the wife and myself and possibly (he's at the age where he'd rather stay home and I get it) 17 year old boy. Thought about a vacation near Cody or Sheridan. Here's the thing am i setting myself up for failure with things to do there with the boys at that age? Thats my big thing is maybe I wait until they're a little older for this trip. If we don't go we will probably head north to Wisconsin or Minnesota for a more relaxed weekend. But I feel like we can go up there any weekend we want. I have to make the best of my time during summer /fall months. Otherwise I've got all winter to take trips but that pretty much leaves beaches or snowmobiling. Any ideas or points of o terest are welcome. Especially from those of you have done it with kids this age. Thanks.

 

[brymoore]

Camp at Yellowstone. You should be able to get a spot at the Lake campground. Bunch of site seeing. Fishing if you wish.

It was our family vacation for years. It’s still the family favorite.

 

[Brittany Chukarman]

A couple years ago wife and I had antelope tags near Thermopolis. To make the trip more fun for her we rented an Air B&B in Thermopolis. After tagging out we went to the dinosaur museum and the hot springs pools. We had a good time at both places. Maybe combine what the smaller towns have along with Cody and Yellowstone.

 

[Kentucky Jack]

We enjoyed Cody Wyoming but only spent a couple days there because it was a two week trip from Kentucky to Yellowstone with multiple stops at places like Devils Tower, Mount Rushmore, Badlands, Little Bighorn Battlefield and many others. If you go to Cody in the summer they have a rodeo every night for like 100 days or more. The Buffalo Bill Cody Museum is great and huge. When we bought tickets for the museum they were good for two days. So depending on where you are coming from could be an awesome road trip. This trip really fueled my desire to hunt out west and I started buying points and applying as soon as I got home!

 

[Nick87]

A couple years ago wife and I had antelope tags near Thermopolis. To make the trip more fun for her we rented an Air B&B in Thermopolis. After tagging out we went to the dinosaur museum and the hot springs pools. We had a good time at both places. Maybe combine what the smaller towns have along with Cody and Yellowstone.

Saw that dinaour museum
You gest is obsessed with dinosaurs, that'd be a good spot.

 

[Nick87]

The more I think about it I think a few more years might be better for taking the kids west as there's a lot of driving involved everywhere you go and I think that might be a big hiccup.

 

[Kentucky Jack]

The more I think about it I think a few more years might be better for taking the kids west as there's a lot of driving involved everywhere you go and I think that might be a big hiccup.

My oldest was 6 but she travels well. We just did Michigan and Wisconsin couple years ago. Kids really liked Mackinac Island in Michigan and didn't want to leave Wisconsin Dells due to the waterparks. We went in early October and had great weather!

 

[WildWill]

We do the beach every other year and it's fun but a big to do. On off year's I try and keep it relaxing and simple. Our go to is to find a air B&B near one of our favorite lakes and mostly fish and watch the kids swim. Might rent a boat for tubing one day or do a guided fishing trip. This year we found a B&B that has a private pond that has a nice covered swim dock, supposedly is loaded with bass, and is across the street from the best striper lake in Texas and Oklahoma. Best part it's only 2 1/2 hours away. Those long drives can be tough for the young ones and suck some of the fun away.

 

[brockel]

Black hills have a ton to do for all ages

 

[slatebuilder]

Alright I need some advice. 5 and 7 year old boys the wife and myself and possibly (he's at the age where he'd rather stay home and I get it) 17 year old boy. Thought about a vacation near Cody or Sheridan. Here's the thing am i setting myself up for failure with things to do there with the boys at that age? Thats my big thing is maybe I wait until they're a little older for this trip. If we don't go we will probably head north to Wisconsin or Minnesota for a more relaxed weekend. But I feel like we can go up there any weekend we want. I have to make the best of my time during summer /fall months. Otherwise I've got all winter to take trips but that pretty much leaves beaches or snowmobiling. Any ideas or points of o terest are welcome. Especially from those of you have done it with kids this age. Thanks.

In Cody my kids loved the street shoot out and night rodeo. They also liked Cody firearms experience, they shot a Gatling gun there. On the way west we also enjoyed the Bandlands, Mount Rushmore, The Black Hills, and Devils Tower. We took our kids to Sturgis for the bike rally a few times too. That is kind of fun if you like motorcycles, just be out of town before noon with the kids.

 

[jpc01101]

My kids are 23, 22 and 9. At the ages your kids are we always had great luck with just plain old city parks as a distraction. My younger son has travelled for 2+ months a year since he was a baby and almost every town has fun stuff to do. Children’s museums, bowling at Scheels, playgrounds, picnics, bike rides, etc. Take ball gloves and a ball, passing ball is so underrated! Most of all they will remember that you were together and you were focused on them!!

 

[brymoore]

The more I think about it I think a few more years might be better for taking the kids west as there's a lot of driving involved everywhere you go and I think that might be a big hiccup.

They’ll figure it out.

 

[Dave N]

That's a long drive for young kids. We waited until they were older and flew to Disney. Next trip I drove us to Niagara Falls and around stopping in Sandusky at Cedar Point amusement park. Having 2 girls made it tough for much outdoors type fun.

 

[Nick87]

They’ll figure it out.

Not a lot of patience at 5..makes for a rough time for all involved.

 

[Johnny Bravo]

Wi Dells, rent a lake cabin in MN (lots of lakes)

 

[Pagosa]

Me and my boy stayed one night on our travels through Wyoming at a teepee campground along the Shoshone river near Cody and drove through Yellowstone. We had a great time. Best of luck in your decision and trip

 

[Birdbander]

I have no ideas to offer about WY vacation ideas. What I want to say is: take the trip!

None of us are promised tomorrow so do as much as you can when you can, especially with your children. Take the trips that you normally wouldn't whe you have the opportunity, but continue to take tge close to home ones too. They're not likely to have 100% clear memories of the trip as they get older, but they will have moments of the trip that they'll never forget. Some of them may be fun, others not so much but they will remember them as you being with them.

I speak as a 56 year old whose uncle took me, my sister and another of his nephews on annual trips starting when I was 6 until I was old enough and (wrongly) decided to spend my summers other ways. I'm forever grateful for having had the opportunities to see so much of our country before I even could drive.

Have a great time!

 

[Cornell Cowboy]

When my boys were that age I think the best times were camping in the woods by a small lake with something to paddle around with (canoe, kayak, raft, etc.). They can move between playing on the shore, paddling, fishing, exploring, and working on the campfire. Lots of places in Wyoming you could do that, but they sure loved it and it was refreshing for my wife and I too. I also could get a little fishing in.

 

[Nick87]

When my boys were that age I think the best times were camping in the woods by a small lake with something to paddle around with (canoe, kayak, raft, etc.). They can move between playing on the shore, paddling, fishing, exploring, and working on the campfire. Lots of places in Wyoming you could do that, but they sure loved it and it was refreshing for my wife and I too. I also could get a little fishing in.

I agree but we coukd do that same type of trip.a couple hours from here. Maybe I'll draw a last minute tag here and will ahve other plans any way.

 

[Hunt&FishCO]

Eatons Ranch outside of Sheridan (or really any Dude Ranch); something for everyone to do. Lot of great memories and things to do